During the July 2013 legislative session, Quinn announced that Illinois state lawmakers would not be receiving another paycheck until the legislature found a fix to the growing debt from the public employee pension plan. The day before Quinn's announcement, the [[Illinois General Assembly]] ignored a deadline put forth by Quinn to pass the bill on pension reform. At that time, the state's debt from the pension plan had reached $100 billion because of "high borrowing costs, low credit ratings, and money being squeezed from social services." Quinn used his line-item veto power on a budget bill to eliminate lawmakers' pay for August 1st from the budget. Quinn's veto would trim $13.8 million from the budget by eliminating salaries and stipends for state lawmakers. Quinn voluntarily suspended his own pay until a deal could be reached. [[Judy Baar Topinka]], the [[Illinois Comptroller|state comptroller]], questioned the legality of Quinn's budget cut. She promised to complete a legal review on Quinn's action before the scheduled date that lawmakers were supposed to receive their paychecks. [[Mike Smiddy|Rep. Mike Smiddy (D)]] and other lawmakers were not surprised by Quinn's action, and had known for weeks that this could happen if the legislature did not find a solution to the pension debt problem. Quinn expressed hope that this act would force state lawmakers to resolve the problem quickly.<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-quinn-legislative-pay-20130711,0,2721578.story "Chicago Tribune", "Quinn hits lawmakers 'in the wallet' as pension dispute simmers," July 11, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/11/pat-quinn-pay-freeze_n_3580014.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago/ "Huffington Post", "Pat Quinn Pay Freeze: Lawmakers React After Illinois Governor Pulls Harsh -- And Maybe Illegal -- Move ," July 11, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/us/illinois-lawmakers-may-miss-payday.html?ref=patrickjquinn/ "New York Times", "Illinois: Lawmakers May Miss Payday," July 11, 2013]</ref>

+

====Proposal to eliminate Illinois lt. governor post====

====Proposal to eliminate Illinois lt. governor post====

On April 11, 2013, the [[Illinois House of Representatives]] approved a proposal seeking to eliminate the position of lieutenant governor by [[Illinois Constitution|constitutional amendment]]. In order for the measure to be passed, it must win approval of both the [[Illinois State Senate|State Senate]] and Illinois voters. If the proposal is approved in a statewide public vote, the office will remain intact for one final term following the 2014 election.<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-quinn-guns-0412-20130412,0,4187302.story ''The Chicago Tribune,'' "House votes to eliminate lieutenant governor post," April 12, 2013]</ref> After the bill passed in the state House, Quinn spoke out in favor of preserving the office, which he previously held for six years until former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment caused him to ascend to the governorship. "I believe in that office, for sure, he said of the lieutenant governor, who is empowered to oversee the Illinois River Coordinating Council, the state’s Rural Affairs Council and the Illinois Main Street Program, in addition to being first in the line of succession to take over in the event there is a vacancy in the governor's office. Next in line after the lt. governor is the [[Attorney General of Illinois|attorney general]]. When Quinn was lt. governor under Blagovevich, he stretched the role of lt. governor's beyond statutory bounds, and dedicated the office's resources and limited powers to issues such as finding aid for families of military service members. Quinn is the fifth of the state’s forty-six previous lt. governors to have succeeded to the top job mid-term.

On April 11, 2013, the [[Illinois House of Representatives]] approved a proposal seeking to eliminate the position of lieutenant governor by [[Illinois Constitution|constitutional amendment]]. In order for the measure to be passed, it must win approval of both the [[Illinois State Senate|State Senate]] and Illinois voters. If the proposal is approved in a statewide public vote, the office will remain intact for one final term following the 2014 election.<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-quinn-guns-0412-20130412,0,4187302.story ''The Chicago Tribune,'' "House votes to eliminate lieutenant governor post," April 12, 2013]</ref> After the bill passed in the state House, Quinn spoke out in favor of preserving the office, which he previously held for six years until former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment caused him to ascend to the governorship. "I believe in that office, for sure, he said of the lieutenant governor, who is empowered to oversee the Illinois River Coordinating Council, the state’s Rural Affairs Council and the Illinois Main Street Program, in addition to being first in the line of succession to take over in the event there is a vacancy in the governor's office. Next in line after the lt. governor is the [[Attorney General of Illinois|attorney general]]. When Quinn was lt. governor under Blagovevich, he stretched the role of lt. governor's beyond statutory bounds, and dedicated the office's resources and limited powers to issues such as finding aid for families of military service members. Quinn is the fifth of the state’s forty-six previous lt. governors to have succeeded to the top job mid-term.

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====Health care reform====

====Health care reform====

−

The day after the [[United States House of Representatives]] narrowly passed the [[United States Senate|Senate]] reconciliation bill on health care reform, [[Democrat]] [[Governor of Illinois|Governor]] [[Pat Quinn]] stated proudly that, unlike other states, he would not be instructing his state's top law enforcer to oppose the reform measure through litigative efforts. Instead, he added, [[Illinois]] would warmly embrace it. Though the new health care legislation would expand Medicaid, Quinn argued that he didn't "think adding participants to the Medicaid rolls would add to [[Illinois]]' deficit," which stands at $12.8 billion. <ref>[http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9EJTQN80 ''Canadian Business Online'' "Gov. Quinn: Illinois won't stand in way of health care reform like other states proposing" 22 March, 2010]</ref> <ref>[http://www.progressillinois.com/news/content/2010/01/25/report-illinois-fy-2011-deficit-12-billion ''Progress Illinois'' "Civic Fed Report Pegs Illinois Deficit At $12.8 Billion" 25 Jan. 2010]</ref>

+

The day after the [[United States House of Representatives]] narrowly passed the [[United States Senate|Senate]] reconciliation bill on health care reform, Governor Quinn stated proudly that, unlike other states, he would not be instructing his state's top law enforcer to oppose the reform measure through litigative efforts. Instead, he added, [[Illinois]] would warmly embrace it. Though the new health care legislation would expand Medicaid, Quinn argued that he didn't "think adding participants to the Medicaid rolls would add to [[Illinois]]' deficit," which stands at $12.8 billion. <ref>[http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9EJTQN80 ''Canadian Business Online'' "Gov. Quinn: Illinois won't stand in way of health care reform like other states proposing" 22 March, 2010]</ref> <ref>[http://www.progressillinois.com/news/content/2010/01/25/report-illinois-fy-2011-deficit-12-billion ''Progress Illinois'' "Civic Fed Report Pegs Illinois Deficit At $12.8 Billion" 25 Jan. 2010]</ref>

Quinn is set to run for his second full term as governor in 2014. According to race ratings released by Governing Politics and analyst Larry Sabato's "Crystal Ball," Quinn is among the incumbents considered most vulnerable to losing re-election heading into the 2014 gubernatorial election cycle.[2]

His time as governor has thus far been marred by steep, deeply unpopular budget cuts and tax increases stemming from long-term state debt. As lieutenant governor under Blagovevich, Quinn sought to expand the role beyond statutory bounds, dedicating the office's resources and limited powers to issues such as finding aid for families of military service members. Quinn is the fifth of the state’s forty-six previous lt. governors to have succeeded to the top job mid-term. Since becoming governor, Quinn has emphasized improving the state government's ethical standards and protecting public-sector labor unions.

Quinn is the grandson of an Irish immigrant, who left a strong imprint of Catholicism on Quinn's father, a public relations official in the Catholic archdiocese of Chicago, as well as Quinn.[3]

Biography

Quinn, born in 1948, was the oldest of the three sons of P.J. and Eileen Quinn. He attended Catholic grade school, and then Fenwick High School in Oak Park. For college, Quinn attended Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in international economics. He went on to obtain his law degree from Northwestern University's School of Law in 1980.[1]

Before entering public service, Quinn was a tax attorney. He gained some early fame in the 1970s by leading an ultimately unsuccessful drive to amend, via a petition drive, the Illinois Constitution with the "Illinois Initiative." This amendment would have provided people from Illinois with the same power to enact statutes through the process of referendum that is used in other states, notably California. Though Quinn's petition drive was successful, his efforts were blocked by the Illinois Supreme Court that ruled that the Illinois Initiative was an "unconstitutional constitutional amendment", and it was never allowed to be placed before the voters.

Quinn expressed his appreciation for the initiative process in his state as the campaign proceeded, saying, "Lawmaking by initiative is both practical and workable in Illinois. Other large industrial states like Michigan Ohio, Massachusetts and California have found the initiative process to be an excellent way of directly involving average citizens in state government decisionmaking. Average voters should not be looked upon as little children who need to be protected against themselves. They have common sense and good judgment for making responsible decisions on tough policy questions that affect their lives and pocket-books."[4]

Education

Fenwick High School (1967)

BA, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University (1971)

JD, Northwestern University School of Law (1980)

Political career

Governor of Illinois (2009-Present)

Quinn is the 41st and current Illinois Governor. Quinn, formerly the lieutenant governor, ascended to the governorship on January 29, 2009 after the Illinois State Senate impeached former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Quinn won election to a full term on November 2, 2010, which he began serving on January 10, 2011. Quinn's current term will expire on January 12, 2015.

Issues

Pension reform

During the July 2013 legislative session, Quinn announced that Illinois state lawmakers would not be receiving another paycheck until the legislature found a fix to the growing debt from the public employee pension plan. The day before Quinn's announcement, the Illinois General Assembly ignored a deadline put forth by Quinn to pass the bill on pension reform. At that time, the state's debt from the pension plan had reached $100 billion because of "high borrowing costs, low credit ratings, and money being squeezed from social services." Quinn used his line-item veto power on a budget bill to eliminate lawmakers' pay for August 1st from the budget. Quinn's veto would trim $13.8 million from the budget by eliminating salaries and stipends for state lawmakers. Quinn voluntarily suspended his own pay until a deal could be reached. Judy Baar Topinka, the state comptroller, questioned the legality of Quinn's budget cut. She promised to complete a legal review on Quinn's action before the scheduled date that lawmakers were supposed to receive their paychecks. Rep. Mike Smiddy (D) and other lawmakers were not surprised by Quinn's action, and had known for weeks that this could happen if the legislature did not find a solution to the pension debt problem. Quinn expressed hope that this act would force state lawmakers to resolve the problem quickly.[5][6][7]

Proposal to eliminate Illinois lt. governor post

On April 11, 2013, the Illinois House of Representatives approved a proposal seeking to eliminate the position of lieutenant governor by constitutional amendment. In order for the measure to be passed, it must win approval of both the State Senate and Illinois voters. If the proposal is approved in a statewide public vote, the office will remain intact for one final term following the 2014 election.[8] After the bill passed in the state House, Quinn spoke out in favor of preserving the office, which he previously held for six years until former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment caused him to ascend to the governorship. "I believe in that office, for sure, he said of the lieutenant governor, who is empowered to oversee the Illinois River Coordinating Council, the state’s Rural Affairs Council and the Illinois Main Street Program, in addition to being first in the line of succession to take over in the event there is a vacancy in the governor's office. Next in line after the lt. governor is the attorney general. When Quinn was lt. governor under Blagovevich, he stretched the role of lt. governor's beyond statutory bounds, and dedicated the office's resources and limited powers to issues such as finding aid for families of military service members. Quinn is the fifth of the state’s forty-six previous lt. governors to have succeeded to the top job mid-term.

“There are some issues that fall between the cracks, and somebody has to stand up for those issues,” he said, and cited his work helping veterans, among other issues, Quinn said. “It’s good to have a backup quarterback.”[9]

Gun control

According to Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson, the governor "believes strongly" that restrictions on semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines should be passed in 2013.[10]

High speed rail

In November 2010, Quinn reached out to Wisconsin’s train manufacturers and tried to get some of the state's high speed rail federal money. His administration is openly courting Talgo Inc., which is slated to build Wisconsin’s high speed rail cars.

Illinois received $1.2 billion in federal stimulus dollars earlier this year to install high speed rail-lines across the state. Instead, Illinois is using the money to improve the lines that run from Chicago to St. Louis and Chicago to Madison, Wisconsin. Missouri and Wisconsin also received federal funding for high-speed rail lines. These states were supposed to finish Illinois’ projects when they cross into their states. However, with the Wisconsin election of RepublicanScott Walker, the state's commitment to the $810 million project has become unclear.

Quinn said that Illinois would be happy to take the extra federal money if Wisconsin refuses it. “I’ve already talked to the vice president about it, Vice President Biden,” Quinn said. “I told him that if some states, Ohio and Wisconsin turn back money on high speed rail, we’ve got our hand up right away. We want to make sure we use that money in Illinois.”[11]

On December 23, 2010, the several entities involved in making the decision came to an agreement about how to proceed with development. The Illinois Department of Transportation, Amtrak and Union Pacific Railroad gave the agreed on a deal that will allow federal funds to start flowing to the state. IDOT will administer the funds and Amtrak will be responsible for the running the trains. Union Pacific Railroad owns the track that the trains will run on.

“We’re very proud that this agreement has been reached,” said Josh Kauffman, spokesman for IDOT. “The agreement allows Illinois to access $1.1 billion in (federal) stimulus funds in order to move high-speed rail forward.” Quinn praised the agreement. “It’s a wonderful day for Illinoisans as we celebrate a milestone achievement towards becoming the first state in the nation to bring high-speed rail to fruition," he said in a press release.[12]

Civil unions

Gov. Quinn promised to sign the legislation to legalize civil unions as soon as it lands on his desk. The law would come into effect on July 1.[13]

Quinn entered the chamber during lawmakers' closing speeches, and later declared the bill’s passage "right." “I think it is the right thing to do because it’s the right of conscience of people of our state that they should have this right,” Quinn said. “I think it is important that we respect the diversity that we have in our state and be a tolerant state of Illinois.”[14]

Tax increase

The Illinois State Senate passed a plan for a two point income tax hike, from 3 percent to 5 percent. At the start of the 2011 session, Quinn met with Democratic leaders to speak about passing tax hike legislation in the House. Quinn is pulling for a hike of at least 1 percent.

Senate PresidentJohn Cullerton said the House is going to have to act first. "We already passed an income tax out of the Senate," Cullerton said. "So they're talking about getting the vote to pass an income tax out of the House."

House Republicans hesitate to support any tax increase without concessions from Quinn and legislative Democrats. State Rep Jil Tracy said while there has been talk of Medicaid, workers' comp and education reform, talk isn't going to get many votes. "I only hope there's been a lot of real reform talked about that's going to be shown in legislation," she said. "I'm not sure." Tracy said Democrats only want GOP votes as a shield against angry voters.[15]

Concealed carry

In May 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn announced that he would veto the concealed carry bill on which the Illinois Legislature had voted, if it landed on his desk. The bill would allow Illinois residents to carry concealed firearms in public. That threat held little water because the bill had a lot of support and might win through a supermajority (71 votes in the House and 36 votes in the Senate) of votes from both chambers.

Rep. Brandon W. Phelps said he was trying to find enough support in the House to move the plan over to the Senate. Phelps said he wanted to call House Bill 148 for a vote on May 5, regardless of Quinn's opposition. "I just think that (Quinn) is wrong," Phelps said. "And you agree to disagree. Sometimes people within your own party disagree with what they say. And I totally disagree with him today."

Under HB 148, Illinois residents 21 and older could apply for permits to carry concealed firearms in public, except for places like schools, churches and inside state government buildings. Applicants would need to pass a written exam, firearms training exercises and background checks. "About two-thirds of the citizens of our state are steadfastly and strongly opposed to allow private citizens to carry loaded, concealed handguns in public places," Quinn said.

Sen. Gary Forby said the opponents of concealed carry mostly live in and around Chicago and that people downstate, and in other states, support the idea. "I think all we are doing now, we are really helping the state of Illinois with what they got to do to get a license and stuff," Forby said. "So all you are going to do is put guns in peoples' good hands."

Quinn said the plan may lead to more violence. "I don't think that's healthy, if you are going to the grocery store," Quinn said. "You bump into somebody accidentally, and they take offense, they can pull out a loaded, concealed handgun to assuage their anger."

Sen. Larry Bomke said the plan would deter violence, because potential burglars would less likely rob homeowners with guns. "I can only hope that he changes his mind once the bill gets to his desk," Bomke said. "And I feel fairly confident it will. But it will be important that we have enough votes, a supermajority, to override his decision if he chooses to veto the bill." Rep. Jason Barickman said lawmakers have been working carefully to craft the plan. “At the end of the day, we certainly would appreciate the governor's support,” Barickman said. “But with him making it clear that he opposes this right, this constitutional right, this right that a mass number of people support. I think that we just have to continue lining up our legislative votes and push forward."

Rep. Norine Hammond hopes that's enough support. “A lot of people have worked on this very hard — lots of law enforcement input,” she said. “I think it is a very strong bill. And hopefully we could get it passed," she said.

In the end though, Rep. Richard Morthland said it won’t matter what the governor chooses to do with the legislation if there are enough votes. "There is a last minute roll call being taken just trying to figure out where people are, and how we are doing, and do we have exactly the number of votes we need, how close are we,“ Morthland said. “I think it looks good. Hopefully we will be able to move it this week."[16]

Tax money taken from charities

On June 26, 2011, the News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana, IL) reported that Quinn's Office of Management and Budget took $1.18 million from charitable donations made on Illinois tax returns to help pay the state's bills during fiscal year 2011. The money came from 11 "tax checkoff funds," financed by the contributions of Illinois taxpayers who can check off a box on their tax returns to automatically donate to one of several charities. A government spokesperson claimed the state was borrowing the money temporarily and would repay it within several months, but some of the affected charities complained the funds were being misused. Tracy Smith, executive director of Feeding Illinois, which runs a network of food banks, claimed the organization had yet to receive any tax checkoff money from the past two years of tax returns.[17]

Health care reform

The day after the United States House of Representatives narrowly passed the Senate reconciliation bill on health care reform, Governor Quinn stated proudly that, unlike other states, he would not be instructing his state's top law enforcer to oppose the reform measure through litigative efforts. Instead, he added, Illinois would warmly embrace it. Though the new health care legislation would expand Medicaid, Quinn argued that he didn't "think adding participants to the Medicaid rolls would add to Illinois' deficit," which stands at $12.8 billion. [18][19]

Job creation ranking

In a June 2013 analysis by The Business Journals which ranked 45 of the country's 50 governors by their job creation record, Quinn was ranked number 30. The five governors omitted from the analysis all assumed office in 2013. The ranking was based on a comparison of the annual private sector growth rate in all 50 states using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.[20][21]

Lieutenant Governor of Illinois (2002-2009)

Quinn sought the office of Lieutenant Governor in 2002, and after winning the Democratic primary in March of that year, he ran together with Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Rod Blagojevich. In Illinois, candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor run separately in the primary election, and are then joined together as a ticket in the General Election. Blagojevich and Quinn defeated Attorney General Jim Ryan and State Senator Carl Hawkinson in the general election. In the Illinois primary election in March 2006, he ran unopposed as a Democrat. In November 2006, he and Governor Rod Blagojevich won re-election to their respective offices.

Illinois State Treasurer (1991-1995)

After serving one term as State Treasurer, Quinn ran for the office of Illinois Secretary of State in 1994, losing in the general election to the incumbent (and future Governor) George H. Ryan.

Elections

2014

Quinn ran for re-election in 2014.[22] A report released by Governing in December 2012 named him as one of five governors considered vulnerable to losing re-election in the 2013-2014 gubernatorial elections.[23]The general election took place November 4, 2014.

2014 Hypothetical match-up polls

Between November 26-28, 2012 Public Policy Polling surveyed 500 registered Illinois voters through live telephone interviews. The respondents were given a series of hypothetical match-ups between Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn and three potential Republican candidates, and asked which of the two candidates they would vote for in the 2014 election. The margin of error is +/- 4.4%.
[24]

Quinn's competition in the February 2, 2010 Democratic Party primary was Illinois State Comptroller Dan Hynes.[26] After a long election night, Quinn emerged victorious over Hynes in the Democratic race. The two spoke a day or two after the vote about coming together for the November election[27].

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Quinn is available dating back to 1998. Based on available campaign finance records, Quinn raised a total of $27,122,201 during that time period. This information was last updated on July 8, 2013.[28]

2002-2010

Ballotpedia collects information on campaign donors for each year in which a candidate or incumbent is running for election. The following table offers a breakdown of Pat Quinn's donors each year.[29] Click [show] for more information.

Pat Quinn's Campaign Contributions

2010Governor of Illinois

2006Lieutenant Governor of Illinois

2002Lieutenant Governor of Illinois

Total Raised

$24,000,701

$238,161

$589,835

Total Raised by General Election Opponents

$19,945,166

$1,166,836

$676,414

Top 5 contributions

Service Employees Healthcare Illinois Indiana

$1,895,435

Richard Shapiro

$20,000

Pat Quinn

$145,000

Democratic Governors Association

$1,862,932

Chicago Teachers Union

$18,500

Blair Hull

$75,000

Service Employees Illinois State Council

$1,376,455

Illinois Pipe Trades

$17,000

Eight is Enough Committee

$24,000

Taxpayers for Quinn

$1,104,013

AFSCME Council 31

$14,500

Development Specialists

$20,000

Service Employees International Union

$1,100,000

International Union of Painters & Allied Trades

$12,500

William L. Berry

$15,050

Individuals

$3,580,624

$53,705

$208,798

Institutions

$17,798,497

$214,052

$160,415

In-state donations

$18,175,888

$210,404

$571,284

Out-of-state donations

$5,625,620

$23,975

$11,375

Personal

Quinn owns a home in Chicago's Galewood neighborhood. He is the father of two grown sons, Patrick and David.[1]

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